May 2021, Fort Payne: Campfire Talks at DeSoto State Park

 

Join DeSoto State Park for fun campfire talks in the great outdoors!  Campfire Talks are a series of educational & entertaining programs located outside in DeSoto State Park. Campfire programs are held many Friday & Saturday evening (May –October) in our large campfire ring inside the improved campground. Talks are for all ages, & open to everyone! UPCOMING CAMPFIRE TALKS-MAY: May 7th-Dragonflies & Damselflies Dragonflies and damselflies are both predatory flying insects that look primitive and ancient because they are: fossil records show prehistoric species that are quite similar to modern species, although considerably larger. Modern dragonflies and damselflies are most prevalent in warmer regions, but some species can be found in almost every part of the world except for the polar regions.  Join lepidopterist and photographer, Vitaly Charny, to learn more about the fascinating life-cycle of Alabama’s dragonflies and damselflies. Stunning photographs to see! More info May 8th-So Many Bugs! Insects are the most diverse group of animals there are, about a million described species and it's estimated there may be 6 million or more as yet undescribed, accounting for more than half of all life on earth.  They are dominant on land, abundant in freshwater, but hardly represented in the sea, where the related Crustacea take over. Join lepidopterist and photographer, Vitaly Charny for an interesting introduction to many of the main family orders of these fascinating creatures. Info

May 15th-Nature’s Garbagemen: The Wonderful World of Vultures There are 23 vulture species in the world, and at least one type of vulture is found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. While they are not usually rated as “cute and cuddly” these scavenging birds do our environment a world of good. Vultures are amazing birds, but they are often misunderstood. Learning just how unique these birds are can help you better appreciate their place in the world’s avifauna and how important their ongoing conservation is. Mercedes Maddox, Nongame Wildlife Biologist from the AL Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries is our guest speaker for this fun talk. Info May 14th-Backyard Habitat for Wildlife Join Mercedes Maddox to learn how to create a wildlife-friendly backyard. Whether you have a plethora of acres or a small fenced-in yard, there are many things you can do to add natural value to your landscape. Mercedes will focus on the three necessities, food, water, and shelter, and explore both artificial and natural ways you can incorporate these into your backyard. With a few key habitat traits, your backyard can turn into your own wildlife refuge. Info May 22nd- Herps Around Us Amphibians and reptiles comprise about 17,000 species of vertebrates on this planet, and surprisingly, many species are ‘comfortable’ living with people. Come & join naturalist Jamie Rogers from Wallace State as she presents this talk about the ‘friends’ that live among us. After the program, you may choose to go on a night walk to the frog pond (near the Lodge) to listen for fascinating night critters (be sure to bring a flashlight/headlamp!) Info